Protesters: 'Appalled that this killing is being done in our name'

A dozen death penalty opponents gather outside Idaho's state prison gates on Tuesday morning, to protest the execution of Richard Leavitt. (Betsy Russell)

About a dozen protesters had gathered outside Idaho's prison gates by 9 a.m., to protest the execution this morning of Richard Leavitt. "As citizens of this state, we are appalled that this killing is being done in our name," Mia Crosthwaite of Idahoans Against the Death Penalty told the group, as they gathered in a circle to pray. Crosthwaite, who also protested at the November execution of Paul Ezra Rhoades, said she believes that Idahoans will be no safer with Leavitt dead than confined in prison for life. "We believe that killing people by the state of Idaho is wrong," she said. "It was wrong for the murder to happen. It is wrong for this killing to happen." She added, "We hope that our governor looks into his heart ... and calls and says, 'Stop.'"

Some of the protesters held signs with slogans including, "Execute justice, not people" and "Cruel and unusual punishment." A half-hour later, the number of protesters had doubled to about 25.